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Yesterday a third plane set off from Venezuela with aid destined for the Gaza Strip. The act is part of the South American country’s solidarity effort in the wake of Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory earlier this year.

On Tuesday the Venezuelan Foreign Office announced the government’s decision to recall their ambassador to Spain, Mario Isea Bohórquez, for consultations. A hardline opposition leader, currently imprisoned and facing charges of inciting violence, refused to attend his own trial yesterday in in an attempt to pressure the government to respond to a United Nations request for his immediate release.

On Friday, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro announced that Interior Justice Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres would be replaced in his post by chief admiral and former defense minister Carmen Melendez. Many Venezuelans believe the decision was an attempt to mend the rift with revolutionary grassroots collectives, who hold the former minister accountable for the deadly shooting of five armed collective members earlier this month.

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro said yesterday that a “revolution” of the country’s police forces is being launched, after revealing that a group of police was involved in the 1 October murder of late PSUV deputy Robert Serra.

Members of the Communist Youth of Venezuela (JCV) had just finished publicity work at 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 when incendiary devices, launched from different points, struck the façade of their headquarters building in Caracas

The spokespeople of several chavista organisations have announced their affiliation to Marea Socialista (Socialist Tide), signaling the existence of a growing dissident left current in the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

In an interview published Sunday, Venezuelan Finance Minister Rodolfo Marco said will South American country will not sell Citgo Petroleum Corporation to the United States. Citgo is the U.S. subsidiary of the Venezuelan state owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA).

Several opposition figures, including former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, are currently engaged in networking and lobbying trips in the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has clashed with a UN human rights official over the demand to release jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.

On Tuesday, Venezuelan finance minister Rodolfo Marco Torres presented the outline of the 2015 government budget, which features heightened investment in pension programs, healthcare, and university expansion.

On Tuesday, at the 59th United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva, Switzerland, chairperson Nicole Ameline praised Venezuela’s efforts and success in increasing gender equality.